verbs - Proper usage of pronouns


As an ESL student, sometimes I wonder whether I use too many pronouns. For example:



She grabbed her purse, she took some money and then she went to buy some groceries. After that she returned happily with a lot of things she bought.



Can it be changed to something like this?



She grabbed her purse, took some money and then went to buy some groceries. After that returned happily with a lot of things she bought.



When can you get rid of the pronouns without losing the sense of the person or object you’re referring to? Where can I get more information about this?



Answer



You need at least a subject and verb in each sentence and independent clause. Sometimes the independent clauses in the same sentence can share a subject. As you suggested



She grabbed her purse, took some money and then went to buy some groceries.



There are three independent clauses in this compound sentence.



She grabbed her purse,
[she] took some money and
[she] then went to buy some groceries.



The second and third clauses are all sharing the subject she. The use of fewer pronouns here makes the sentence flow well and sounds less formal.


The second sentence is a problem. In your example, there is no subject.



After that [subject?] returned happily with a lot of things she bought.



The dependent clause she bought modifies a lot of things. It cannot share its subject with the main clause. Instead, it should read



After that she returned happily with a lot of things she bought.



The second pronoun should not be omitted either. Dependent clauses generally need their own subject.


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